Wednesday, November 22, 2017

The Google Doodle for the 22nd November pays tribute to kimchi, a traditional staple in North and South Korean cuisine.
Today’s date is significant for this side dish because Koreans believe salting kimchi on this day helps it reach its full potential in flavour. Consisting of napa cabbage, green onion, fish sauce, red pepper flakes, rice flour, salt, ginger, radish, carrot and garlic, as depicted by Google, kimchi is fermented in a clay pot, otherwise known as ‘onggi’, and is regarded as a delicious dish around the world.

What is Kimchi?

Google Doodle Today celebrate Kimchi on what is known as “Kimchi Day” in Korea! According to local research, the date is significant in this tasty treat’s creation because salting kimchi today helps the dish reach its full flavor potential.

Packing a powerful punch of napa cabbage, green onion, fish sauce, red pepper flakes, rice flour, salt, ginger, radish, carrot, and garlic, fermented kimchi in onggi (clay pot) is loved by many around the world and is traditionally eaten with chopsticks. Today’s Doodle celebrates each ingredient that goes into making some seriously scrumptious kimchi.

Kimchi was first referenced in Korea about 2,600-3,000 years ago, and in the 18th century, it was first made with chili peppers. Due to varying regional recipes, there are hundreds of different types of kimchi. Many Korean households even have a separate kimchi refrigerator!

The dish is produced in especially large amounts during November and December. This is when kimjang (kimchi curing) takes place in preparation for winter. During kimjang, cabbage is pickled by cutting it into smaller pieces, soaking it in brine overnight, and dashing salt. Then, yangnyum (radish coated in chili powder) is mixed with ingredients such as green onions, dropwort, mustard leaves, ginger, garlic, and fermented shrimp or anchovies. To complete the process, the pickled cabbage is stuffed or mixed with the yangnyum and stored away to ferment until eating.

During this time, family members and neighbors gather in each other’s kitchens to cook together, trade recipes, and share stories. Listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage, kimjang creates moments of joy and encourages living in harmony with nature.

Finally Google Maps launch new feature for Local Guides user as the achievement. The previous feature, Leveling ( 1 - 10) and point rewards for your activity as like upload photo, upload video (android user), reviews, ratings, edit, place added, facts checked, answers and Q&A. Now on your Local Guides Profile you can find the special badge achievement.

New achievement badges can unlock by the Google Maps Local Guides with the criteria:

Reviewer: You’ll earn this badge by writing detailed reviews that help people decide where to go.

Photographer: This badge is for sharing photos of places, so others can see the world on Google Maps.

Trailblazer: Here’s the badge for exploring. Earn it by being the first to add, review, or take a photo of a place.

Fact Finder: Earn this badge by checking facts, making edits, and answering simple questions about places to help people find the right information on Google Maps.

By sharing more, you can get upgrades for each one. For example, a Novice Photographer can become an Expert Photographer, and then reach legendary status as a Master Photographer.. Your past contributions will be factored in too, so some of you may have already reached that status!

This feature is rolling out over the next few weeks. To see if it’s on your device right now, go to “Your contributions” on Google Maps for Android or iOS. There, you’ll see your progress toward each badge. Tap each one to see how to earn the more advanced version of your new badge.